Control system for wash water storage and re-use system



July 26, 1960 USER 2,946,212

P. H. HO CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WASH WATER STORAGE AND REY-USE SYSTEM FiledJuly 24, 1958 3 sheets-sheet 1 FIG. I

j i II 0 O O Y O O O O O O K v 4 i no 6 Ho .i 5 J m IE m 8 4s 4s I6 20-,w/ 4 K 44 I! M H) Z3 29 Jr T: IS I M- INVEN TOR.

PHILIP H. HOUSER nfl w H is ATTORNEY July 26, 1960 P. H. HOUSER2,946,212

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WASH WATER STORAGE AND RE-USE SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed July 24, 1958 F'IGZ.

PHILIP H. HOUSER BY @wam ms A'r'roRNEY July 26, 1960 Filed July 24, 1958OUSER 2,946,212

P. H. H CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WASH WATER- STORAGE AND RE-USE SYSTEM 3Sheets-Sheet 3 ACTIVATE PAUSE a. coAs-r :oAsT PAUSE'B' OFF IsPm' ISPIN'lacnvxrdl SPIN INVENTOR. PHILIP H. 'HOUSER His ATTORNEY'CON'IROLSYSTEMFOR WASH WATERSTDRAGE AND RE-U'SE SYSTEM PhiliPaH.Hansen-Louisville;- Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, acorporation of- New York FilerlJ uly '24, 1958; Ser. No; 750,653

' SElaims. (Cl.68-.-12)

My invention relates to automatic'washing. machines and moreparticularly to such machines including a wash water storageand reusesystem for storing the wash water ..after the washing operationand thenreturning itto the machine for usein a subsequent, operation.

"'By means ofawash water storage and re-use system, commonly called a"suds saver system, the hot sudsy wash water used in-the washing step ofan automatic clothes washing machine may be passed into a suitablestorage reservoir fafter. the washing step is completed rather thanbeing discharged to the drain. The sudsy water is retainedin thereservoir until the washing machine completes its "cycle-of operation,rinsing and drying the clothes, and .theclothes aretakenout of themachine. Then when another load of dirty clothes is placed in themachine, .thesystem is effective to return the sudsy water fromthereservoir to. the washingcontainer. for washing the ..second. loadof. clothes. This re-use of the sudsy water, of: course, providesappreciable savings in both hot water... and ..detergent.

To pass the wash water to the reservoir for storage, the storage andre-use systems ordinarily utilize the drain pump of .the washing.machine. Suitable conduits and valve meansare connected to the drainpump whereby the washWa-ter may be conductedto the reservoir asthe pumpempties the machine. The drain pump cannot, however,

ordinarily be used to return the Water from the reservoir to-.-theinachine,:and therefore a separate return pump is provided for thatpurpose. The return pump is arranged with its inlet connectedtothestorage reservoir and with its outlet connected to the Washingcontainer of the ma.- chine, and upon its operation itis effective towithdraw the stored water from the reservoir and pass it back intothewashing container.

It is a primary object ofmy invention to provide a new and improvedelectrical control system .for washing machinesincluding a washwater-and storage and re-use system, whereby afterainitially setting'thereturn pump in operation, the operator may then leave the machine and itwill automatically proceed into its'cycle of operation after apredetermined period of time which may be of such duration that all thestored liqu-id can be returned to the washing container.

It 'is another" object of .my invention to provide a 'control systemincluding time delay means for automatically controlling both the returnpump and electrically controlled valve means connectedto thewater supplywhereby the pump is locked .in and. concurrently the valve means isclosed. for a predetermined period of time in order that the storedliquid may bereturned to the washing container.

A.further object ofmy invention is to provide a. control systemof. thetype which is effectiveto energize electrically controlled valve-meansconnected to a water supply concurrently as the returnpump isde-energized, thereby to supply automatically and immediately -any.make-up water-needed in addition to the stored liquid toYfill thewashing container.

2,46,212 Patented ui'uly 25, 1960 r In carrying out myinventionl providea washing .ma-

'1' chine which includes a wash'water storage and return 'system. I Thissystem is. arranged for storing the wash waterdrained from. the machineafter. the washing operation in 'a suitable storage reservoir, and forthen returning "the water to the machine for. use in asubsequent washingoperation. In order to return the stored liquid to the machine, thesystemincludes an electrically controlled return pump, and ibyimyinvention animproved control of .this pump is provided My improvedcontrol means for theieturnpump include a manually-operated switch forinitiating the operation of the return pump and a time delay means whichconcurrently energized with the return pump by means of themanually-operated switch. "The return pump, when energized in-itsoperated position, returnsithe water from the storage reservoir to. the

' machine. After a predetermined period of time, which may be longenough to exhaust the reservoir, the'time delay meansreturns themanually-operated switch to its initial position and the return pump isthereupon immediatelyi de-energized. With this arrangement the opera-toris freed from attendance on the machine, and in addition Lthe returnpump is caused to run desired.

only as long as is By a further aspect. ofmy invention the manuallyoperated switch may also be advantageously employed to control the waterinlet valve means of the machineconnected to the household water supply.Specifically the switch. is so arranged that it normally closes thevalve means circuit but opens that circuit wheneverit closes the timedelay means a'ndithe return pump. circuits. I Thus the valve meanscannot be energized to supplyv fresh water .while' the return pump isreturning the stored liquid to the machine, butonce the return pumpceases-toopcrate,

. asdetermined by the time delay means, the valve-means circuit isautomatically and immediately closed. allows the valve means to supplyand make uplliquid needed in addition to the-storedliquid to fillthewashing machine tothe desired level.

The subject matter which I regard asmyinvention-is particularly pointedout and distinctlytclaimed in .the concluding portion of this--specificat-ion.v My invention,

however, both as to organization and method ofoperation, togetherwitlrfurtherlobjects and advantagesthereof, may best be understood byreference to the following descriptiontaken in conjunctionwithztheaccompanying drawings-in which:

. Fig. 1 is a side elevationalviewof a clothes Washing machineincludinga wash =water-storage and re-use system suitable for control bymynew andimproved control system, the view being partially broken-away-andpartiallyv insection toshow details;

of the storageand? re-use .the control=systemoffFig. 6,...-thereby to.illustrate the sequence ofoperation iof the switches controlledby.-t-he cams.

LReferIing noWWto Fig; l, I have shown. therein an agi- Itator.type'c1othes, washing machine 1 which is provided with a washwater-storage and re-use system suitable for center post 6 and aplurality of radially extending vanes;

4 the basket rotation, and thus it, as well as any liquid originally inthe tub, is drained from the machine by the pump 17. The pump 17 isdriven by the motor 12 through a flexible coupling 19 and during thecentrifugal extraction operation it discharges into a hose or conduit 20which leads to valve means forming part of the wash water storage andre-use system. Any suitable drain pump may be used, but in theillustrated machine tatably mounted. Specifically, the basket 2 ismounted on a flange 9 of a rotatable hub 10, and the agitator is mountedon a shaft (not shown) which extends upwardly through the hub 10 and thecenter post 6. The agitator is secured to the shaft by means of aninternally threaded nut or cap 11 at the top of the center post. Duringthe cycle of operation of the machine, the agitator 5 is firstoscillated back and forth within the basket 2 to wash the clothestherein. Then, after a predetermined period of this washing action, thebasket is rotated at high speed to extract centrifugally the washingliquid and discharge it into the outer tub 3. Following this extractionoperation a supply of clean liquid is introduced into the wash basketfor rinsing the clothes, and the agitator is again oscillated. Finally,the wash basket is once more rotated at high speed to extract the rinsewater and discharge it into the outer tub. Preferably the firstextraction operation following the washing operation is divided into twoseparate stages of basket rotation separated by a pause during which thebasket does not rotate. The provision of this pause, it has been found,aids greatly in avoiding suds locking of the basket.

The basket 2 and the agitator 5 may be driven by any suitable meanssince their drive means form no part of the present invention. However,by way of example, I have shown them as driven from a reversible motor12. The motor 12 drives the basket and agitator through a driveincluding a clutch 13 which is mounted on the motor shaft. Clutch 13allows the motor to start without load and then pick up the load as itcomes up to speed. The clutch is connected by a suitable belt 14 to theinput pulley 15 of a transmission assembly 16, and it is effective todrive the pulley v15 in both directions of motor rotation. Thusdepending upon the direction of the motor rotation the input pulley ofthe transmission is driven in opposite dirmtions.

The transmission 16 is so arranged that it supports and drives both theagitator drive shaft and the basket mounting hub 10. Whenthepulley 15 isdriven in one direction by the clutch 13, the transmission causes theagitator 5 to oscillate within the basket 2. Conversely, when the pulley15 is driven in the opposite direction, the transmission drives the washbasket at high speed for centrifugal extraction. Thus, the operationcarried out, i.e., agitation or centrifugal extraction, is controlled bythe direction of rotation of the drive motor, agitation occurring whenthe motor turns in one direction and centnifugal extraction occurringwhen it turns in the other direction. Although the drive mechanism formsno part of the present invention, reference is made to the applicationof James R. Hubbard et al., S. N. 420,594, filed April 2, 1954, nowPatent No. 2,844,225 and assigned to the same assignee as the presentinvention. That application discloses in detail the structuralcharacteristics of a transmission assembly suitable for use in theillustrated machine.

in order to drain or. empty the machine during the centrifugalextraction operation, there is provided a pump 17 which is secured tothe bottom wall of the tub 3 and which withdraws liquid from the tubthrough a suitable bafile assembly 18. The liquid in the basket 2 is, of

course, discharged into the tub 3 during the extraction operations as aresult of the centrifugal force created by there is shown abi-directional pump which discharges into one of two outlets dependingupon the direction of pump rotation. A directional pump of this type isdescribed in detail and claimed in the application of John Bochan, S. N.468,460, filed November 12,1954, now Patent No. 2,883,843 and assignedto the same assignee as the present invention. the centrifugalextraction operation the bi-directional pump 17 discharges through itsone outlet into the hose 20 for either storing the liquid or dischargingit to a drain. However, during the washing and rinsing operations thepump discharges into a second outlet which is connected to a hose 21.This hose 21 leads to a nozzle (not shown) which discharges into afilter 22 mounted on the center post of the agitator 5. The hose 21 andfilter 22 so combined with the bi-directional pump form a recirculationsystem for continuously cleaning and filtering the wash liquid duringthe washing operation. In summary with regard to the pump 17, it willthus be understood that due to the change in the direction of rotationof the pump, the liquid in the tub 3 is discharged to the discharge hose20 during the extraction operations, but is continuously recirculatedthrough the recirculation hose 21 during the washing and rinsingoperations.

Connected to the hose 20 is a wash water storage and re-use systemwhereby the liquid discharged from the tub 3 during-the firstcentrifugal extraction operation following the washing operation eithermay be discharged to a suitable drain, or else may be stored in a settub or other reservoir while the machine completes its cycle ofoperation and then be returned to the machine for use in another washingoperation. The arrangement of this storage and re-use system, includingits conduits, valves and pump means, is fully described and claimed inmycopending application SN. 626,702, filed December 6, 1956, andassigned to the same assignee as the present invention, and it comprisesone suitable storage and reuse system with which my new and improvedcontrol system may be employed. in order to control the disposition ofthe liquid being emptied from the tub, the storage and return systemincludes valve means in the form of a two-way valve 23. The valve 23, asshown, is incorporated within the same casing as a completely separateshut-off valve 24, whose purpose will be explained hereinafter, and thevalves are separated from each other by means of an interior wall 25 ofthe valve casing (Fig. 3). The two-Way valve 23 includes a central inletport 26 which is connected to the discharge hose 20 of the tub and twoseparate outlet ports 27 and 28 which are connected respectively to adrain hose 29 and a storage hose 30. Both of the hoses or conduits 29and 30 extend out of the casing 40f the washing machine and as may bestbe seen in Fig. 2 the drain hose 29 has its discharge end adapted foremptying into a drain 31 which leads directly to the household wasteline. The storage hose 30 on the other hand has its outer end adaptedfor communication with, or more accurately disposed within, a suitablestorage reservoir 32 which is here shown as a common household set tub.It will thus be seen that if the flow is discharged from the valve 23 tothe drain hose 29 it will be emptied into the drain 31 and the householdwaste line. Conversely, if it is passed outwardly to the hose 30 it willbe discharged into the reservoir or tub 32 for storage.

' In order to control which of thehoses 29 or 30 carries the flow; i.e.in order to control whether the liquid is As mentioned above, duringemptied to thedrain or stored, .the.. valve.23.inc ludes a pair of valvedisks 33 .and .34 which areformed as part of a flexible diaphragm 35. iThe valve..disks-33.and 34 are actuated by means of a solenoid .36through aIpi Voted control member orlever .37. The control lever 37 ispivoted intermediate its endsto the cover .plate 38 ofthe valve casing,and on one side ofthepivot isattached to .the valve disk 33 and on. the."otherside of the .pivot is attached to the valve disk 34.Theconnection to the disk 34 is made through a suitable cross arm- 39,as shown. When the solenoid 36 is de-energized, its armature 40 and thelever 37 assume the position illustrated. in Fig. 4 wherein the port 27leading to. the drain hose is..open and the port 28 leading to thestorage hose is closed -.by the valve disk 33. Conversely, when thesolenoid 36 is energized, the armature 40 is pulled inwardly'and. thelever 37 is pivoted so that the disk 34. closes the .port.27 leading tothe drain hose and the disk 33 is moved away from the port 28 so as toopen communicationwiththe storage hose.

the inlet port 26 and the drain port 27, whereas .whenthe solenoid isenergized, communication .provided between the inlet port 26 and thestorageport. 28. .Thus if it 1s desired to store the wash water,.the.solenoid .36. is enerseparate, electric motor 42. TheintakeI fthereturn;

pump 41 is connected to. thestorage hose 30at apoint 43 intermediate itsends by means of a relatively. short circuit or hose 44, and theoutletof the'pum'p is connected to the inlet port 45 of. the shuteofivalve .24 .bymeans of another relatively short conduit, or. hose 46...I'hus.v

it will be seen that whenthe return pump41 is operated, it is effectiveto withdraw the stored liquidfromthetub 32 through the outer portionofthe storage hose=30and the hose 44 and discharge it through the.hose"l46.to. the

.inlet port 45 of the shutroiivalve 24.

The valve 24 is provided with a. single .outlet port 47 andcommunication between the .inletport 45--and the outlet port 47 iscontrolled bymeans of a valve disk.48

adapted to seat on the inner end .of the inlet port. The valve disk 48is formed as a part. of the same diaphragm 85 as are the valve disks ofthe two-wayivalve 23,- and 1t is actuated by means of'the same solenoid36 and connected lever 37. The valve disk 48 is specifically actuated tothe lever 37 by the same cross bar 39as the valve disk 34. When thesolenoid is inits illustrated orde-energized position, the valve disk48,as shown, is lifted on the inlet 45 so that the inlet 45 and theoutlet 47 ofthe shut-off valve are in open communication. 'However,when, the solenoid 36 is energized, the valve disk- 48 is then movedinwardly to seat on the inlet 45 and close oflf. the communicationbetween the inlet and the outlet. v.This, .of course, closes the valve24 completely.

The outlet 47 of the shut-off valve 24 is connected to a return hose 49which is adapted todischarge. into the basket 2. Specifically, the hoseor1conduit-49 extends upwardly within the casing ofthe machine 1-to apoint above the wash basket 2, and at its upper end is provided with adischarge nozzle 50 which discharges the stored -liquid into the basketz through the open topthereof.

In summary, the conduit system for returning'the stored liquid fromthereservoir -32 to the wash basket 2 thus comprises the'outer portionof thehose 30 and the hose 44 from the reservoir to the return pump 41.From the pump 41 the stored liquid then passesv through.;th'e hose Inother words in the .de energized position. of the solenoid 36communication. is. provided .between 46,-the shutoff. valve .24, and thehose 491 andits nozzle I .My. invention is particularly, directed to an.improved .control. arrangement for controlling vthe operation l of the;return..pump 41. lThis arrangement. includes a switch,

.genera1ly.,indicated.,at .512 (Fig. 6), and a. timedelay 1.. means,preferably of the thermal typeas generallyindif.cate'd.at .52, which areeffectiveto. lock in the return pump' for a predetermined timeauntil,the pump has emptied the reservoir32. Thereafter-the return pump. isdeenergized, or. more. tspecifically,.its .drive motor. 42 is.deenergized and simultaneously conditions other electrical ..componentsof themachine sothat themachinezautoin Fig. -6, cornprises amanuallyoperated actuator assemb1y.53.-composed of a button 54, aplunger unit or actuator-member 55, and a-spring 56 which biases the.assemblyl53 outwardly. Switch 51 is a double snap acting type. with anovercenterspring 57 providing. the doublesnap action. Beforeactuationyswitch 51 occupies aafirst ornormalposition. However, whenaitis desired to operatethe re-use system, the' switchis actuatedbythemachine operator when the actuator assembly 53 is pushed. At that timethe switch: is moved to a second position anduthetime-delay means 52 issimultaneously-set into operation. The time delaymeans, as showninfthis: preferred embodiment; comprises aheatingtelementv58-;cooperatively positioned with a bimetal a member 59.I 1 'In order. to provide both torthe lock-in control of the return pump.andfor the automatic operation. of the ma- ..chine. 1; after,apredetermined time, the lock+in switch 51. is so. arranged that itcontrols several difierent circuits.

F'ustof all it controls a circuit .foroperating the return pump;;-i.e.,acircuit-for operating the" return pump-motor 42;.secondly it. controlsa :circuitfor energizing the time -del ay.means; andthirdly, it.controls acircuit-for energizing the operating .solenoids- 60 and 61of.-the"hotand cold-water valves..62,.and.:63. (Fig. -6). I The switch'sl' is so.arrangedthatlthepfirst two circuits are .closed simul-,taneouslyawhile the third circuit is openvand conversely, .whemthe.third circuit is closed, .the first-two circuits re- 1113111 013611-.More=specifically, it is arranged so that'inits normal position itclosesthe circuitfor the-valve solenoids WhereasQinits operated orsecondposition, it closes-,the circuitsforthe returnpump and time delaymeans.

To provide this action the switch Sr is preferably provided with anormally closed set of contacts connected in thetvalvemeans circuit, anda normally open set. of contacts connected. in the return-pumpcircuit-and in'ithe -,time;delay means circuit. Referring-tdFig. 6, the,sta- -t1onary.contact 64 and. the movableswitch contact'65 constitutethe normally closed set of contacts; the normally :open. set of contactsconsists' of stationary .contactt66 connected to-the same contact arm 67as contact 64, and movable switch contact 68. When the contacts "64,65are connected, they are in series in relation to the valve circuit;-when the contacts 66 and 68 are connected, they are in series bothwith-pump .42 and heater 58. Therefore, when the return pump 42 is inoperation; the thermal time delay heater 58 will be energized, supplyingheat to the;.heat.sensitive bimetallic element 59. After a:predetermined time, element 59 will bend, engage movable member 70 ofswitch 51, and return the switch con-tacts to theirnormal position. Atthis time, both the return pump and thermal time delay heater circuitswill be disconnected. Since the two'sets of contacts 64', '65.andfl66,68 are connected respectively in series relation in the valve and returnpump circuits, .as will be explainedindet'ail hereinafter, the valvemeans. cannot.be energized while the return pump is locked in byswitch51. Th'us, no

However, once the switch 51..is returned by the time delay'means fromits operated position, wherein the contacts 66, 68 are closed, to itsnormal position, wherein the contacts 64, 65 are closed,"

after a predetermined time it is apparent that the valve means circuitwill be closed. This occurs at the desired time, after the reservoir 32is drained, in response to the functioning of the time delay means.

Referring still to Fig. 6, I have'shown therein a pre-" ferredembodiment of my new and improved control system for controlling thevarious electrical components of the machine 1, this system includingthe switch 51 for controlling the return pump, thermal time delay means52, and the water valve solenoids. In order to control the sequence ofoperation of the machine 1, the system includes a timer motor 71 whichdrives a plurality of cams I, II, III, IV, and V. These cams, duringtheir rotation by the timer, actuate various switches so as to cause themachine to progress through a preferred cycle of operation, first,washing the clothes, next extracting the wash water from them, thenrinsing the clothes in clean water and finally extracting the rinsewater from the clothes. The electrical circuit as a whole is energizedfrom a twowire power supply 72, 73 and the manner in which the variouselectrical components of the machine are connected to this power supplyduring the machine operation will now be explained.

The control system in Fig. 6 is shown in its condition just after thetimer has been rotated manually into the wash range for placing themachine originally in operation. A manual control dial 74 (see Fig. 1)is provided on the timer shaft to permit this or any other desiredsetting or the timer at the discretion of the operator. With the timerset in the wash range or step, the operator then need only close amanually operable switch 75 to place the machine in operation. Onepreferred manner of -manually controlling the switch 75 is to arrangethe timer control shaft so that it is axially movable, and mount theswitch for actuation by axial movement of the shaft.

To explain the valve means circuit for introducing fresh water into themachine, commencing with the supply line 72 the circuit extends throughthe contacts 76, 77 of a switch 78 which is controlled by the cam III.As shown, the contacts 76 and 77 are closed together by the cam III whenthe timer is in the wash portion of the cycle. Itwill be noted,incidentally, that the switch 78 further includes another contact 79 andthat the cam III can maintain the switch contacts in three difierentconditions, i.e., no engagement at all between the contacts at thelowest level of the cam, contacts 76 and 77 engaged at the intermediatelevel of the cam, and all three contacts 76, 77 and 79 engaged at thehigh level of the cam. From the contact 77 the water supply circuitextends through a conductor 80 to contact arm 67 and contact 64 ofswitch 51. As previously discussed, switch 51 is in its normal position,has contacts 64, 65 closed. From the closed contacts 64, 65 the circuitextends through conductor 81 to the hot water solenoid 60. From solenoid60 the circuit continues through conductor 82 to a movable cam orcontact 83 ofswitch 84 which is controlled by cam II. With the timer inthe wash range, the contact 83 is connected with contact 85 and fromthat contact the circuit extends through a conductor 86 to anotherconductor 87.

If it is desired to supply warm water to the basket 2 rather than hotwater, then a manually actuated switch 88 is closed. This closes acircuit energizing the solenoid 61 of the cold water valve 63 inparallel with the hot water solenoid 60, whereby both hot and coldwater, i.e., warm water, are supplied to the basket. The closing of theswitch 88 specifically energizes the cold water solenoid 61 betweenconductor 81, and conductor 87 through additional conductors 89, 90 and91. e

From the conductor 87 the vflve circuit continues through a conductor 92to the timer motor 71 andthence of the cycle.

173 through an alternate path including both the start winding 95 andthe main winding 96 of the drive motor 12. Specifically, the valvecircuit extends to the one side of the main winding 96 through aconductor 97 and continues from the other side of the winding to theconductor 94 and the power supply through a motor protective device 98and the contacts 99, 14MB of a switch 101 controlled by the cam I. Thecontacts 99, are, as indicated closed when the timer is in the washportion The start winding 95 is connected in the circuit'bymeans of adouble pole, double throw motor reversing switch 102 which is controlledby the cam IV. From the conductor 87 the circuit extends to the startwinding through contacts 103, 104 of this switch and the contacts of amotor operated, centrifugal switch 105 which is closed when the motor isinoperative. From the other side of the start winding 95 the circuit iscompleted through a conductor 106, the contacts 107 and 108 of the motorreversing switch 102 and a conductor 109 to the motor protective device98. From the motor protective device the circuit extends in the samemanner as the circuit for the main winding 96 through the contacts 99and 100 of the switch 101, the conductor 94 and the voltage is taken upacross the solenoid 60 and relatively little across the timer and drivemotors.

This has the result that the solenoid 60 is energized to open the valve61 to admit hot water to the machine but the timer and drive motorsremain inactive. If switch 88 is closed,

solenoid 61 will be energized too so that cold water is also introducedto provide a warm water fill, solenoids 60 and 61. even when connectedin parallel still presenting a much higher impedance than the parallelconnected timer and drive motors. 7

With the hot water valve or both valves open, water is introduced intothe wash basket 2 to fill it until such time as the water reaches thelevel of the overflow apertures 110 provided at the upper end of thebasket side wall (Fig. 1). When the water reaches this level it thenoverflows through these apertures 11% into the tub 3 forming a pool ofwater in the tub. Filling of the tub continues for a short time until awater level responsive switch 111 (Fig; 2) in the bottom of the tub isclosed.

' The switch 111, as shown in Fig. 6, is connected directly betweenthe-conductors 80 and 87 and when it is closed these conductors arethereby shorted together; This shorts out the water valve solenoid orsolenoids and connects the timer motor and the drive motor directlybetween the conductors 80 and 94. Both the timer motor and the drivemotor are thereby placed in operation to commence the washing operationof the machine. It will be noted that the circuit in addition to thewater level responsive switch 111 also includes a manually operable,water saver switch 112 by means of which the conductors 80 and 87 may beshorted together by the operator at any time. This normally open, watersave switch provides for terminating the filling operation and startingthe timer and drive motors 71 and 12 when less than a full load of waterhas been introduced into basket 2.

Digressing from the operation of the machine which takes place uponthejenergizing of the timer and drive motors, now let it be assumed thatthe operator, rather than wishing to fill the machine with fresh water,wishes to use water previously stored in the tank 32 to fill the Imachine.- In that .case she would manually actuate switch 51fromits'normal position to its operated posithat since the return pump awhen the operator depresses the switch 51, she may,'if

tion by pushing buttonEd after,shehadsetthe timer in .the 'wash rangeand closed, switch175.

tch $17 as shown, is. connected in series circuit, relation withjhedrive motor 42. of the return .purnpbetween conductors .80 and. 87,specifically through contactsl66 and 68,..and

conductors 113 and 114, sotnatthe ,Qlosingot contacts 66 and '68;thereby planes powerjonthe 'retnrnpurnp motor. The .motor 42 isofappreciably grcaterimpedance than the parallel connectionjoi the drivemotor 12 and the timer motor 71, and thereby the voltage drop acrossitwhen contacts as 2191168 are closed is relatively I great ascomparedto the drop across the timer and drive motors. Thus motor 42 andthereby return pump 41 itself are placed in operation by closiu contactsti-and '68; The return pump immediately begins to withdraw the storedwater from the set reservoir '32 through the hoses 30 and 44 and pass itintothe basket through the hose 46, the open valve 2 and the rcturnhose49. The

shutofi valve 24 is positively maintained open during 7 this periodbecause cam V holds disengaged thecontacts 7 but also energizes thethermal time delay means circuit.

Specifically, the closing of contacts 66 and 63 completes the circuitfrom conductor 8% to conductor 9 through the closed contacts 66 and 68,resistance heater 58 of the time delay means 52, and conductor 119. Theenergized heater 58 is positioned in the area of bimetallic element 59.Element 59 is in turn positioned so that, as heat is applied to it, itwill bend toward movable member 70 of switch 51. The return pumpcontinues to withdraw the stored liquid from the reservoir 32, with thevalve solenoids 60 and 61 de-energized, until; element 59 contactsmovable member '79, causing itto snap from its operated position to itsnormal position, opening contacts 66 and 68, while closing contacts 64and 65. Atthe time switch 51 is returned to its normal position, poweris removed from the return pump motor 42 and heater '58 circuits andpower is supplied again to the circuit for the water valve solenoid orsolenoids. The water valves thereby automatically introduce any make-upwater necessary to complete the filling of the tub. 2 After the heat isremoved from the, area-surrounding the bimetallic element 59, theelement cools and resumes thev position it occupied prior to theapplication of heat. Thus it will be seen that my new and improvedcontrol systemthrough its inclusion of lock-in switch 51 and time delaymeans 52 not only automatically shuts off the return pump when all thestored liquid is returned from the reservoir, if desired, but alsoautomatically actuates the water valves 62 and 63 so that any make-upliquid necessary is added to the wash basket. The filling of the tubwith the make-up liquid is, of course, terminated just as when all freshwater is added, by-the water level switch 111 being closed when themachine is filled to-the desired level. It will be noted also that justas when the basket 2 is being completely filled with fresh water, thewater saver switch 112 may be used to terminate the filling of thebasket at any time. Since the return pump motor 42 is energized betweenthe conductors '80 and 87, the closing of the switch 112 is equallyeffective to short out the return pump motor as the water valvesolenoids 60 and 61.

A further feature of the system which will be noted is 4-1 isplacedinoperation only she wishes, allow the machine to be filled partially withfresh water before she begins to return the stored water. For example,she may attimes wish to introduce a partial load of fresh hot water toheat up the storedwater to a desired washing level. In that case sheallowsthe fresh ,water, valveoz to fill..-the machine for aperiodbefore, she

. .depr esses the switchlSlQ The water valve, of course com-.mences;operation as soonas, the timer isset. in the wash range andtheswitch 75 is closed. With thewash basket partially .,.filled withfresh-hot water-beforeithe return flow from, the storage reservoir isstarted, it is likely that the washbasket 2 will .be filled before thestoragereservoir. is drainedby. the return pump. The waterlevel switch'llLhowever, inthisinstance terminates thefilling and preventsover-flowing of the machine just as if'the water valves were energized.Specifically, the switch 111 is closed as soon as a small amountofliquid is overflowed into the tub 3, and its closing shorts outthereturnpump motoridl sothat the returniflowceases. Additionally, its closingplaces the timer motor '71 and drive motor d2 in operation so thatthe.machine begins its washing operation.

once either ofthe switcheslllor 112 is closed, both the timermotorqandthe drive motor are-thenenergized agitator with an oscillatorymotionabout its axisawith with full line voltage as mentioned above, andthey thereby ;both commence: operation. Initially both they main winding96:andthe start winding 95 of the drive motor 12 are energized, but assoon as the motor comes up to speed the 'centrifugal switchlllS opens soas to remove the start winding from the circuit.

. With the motor reversing switch 102.111 the position shown inFig. 6,the polarity of the start winding is such that the motor 12 rotates inthe direction for ,:causing operation of ;the agitator. in otherwords,once the filling of the machine is completed, the motor drives the thespinbasket Ziremainingrelatively stationary. Besidesopening the switch105, the operation of the main drive motor, also causes the, closing ofa normally open,

motor operated, centrifugal switch 122 which is connected between the.conductors till-and 87. The closing of this, switch.122 results in thepower being kept on the timerand-drive motors even if the level of waterin fthetubshould decrease below that: necessary to .keep

the switch 111 closed. The centrifugal switches 105 and.12.2 arepreferably ,bothfoperated from the same centrifugal mechanism .123driven by the drive motor 12.

Concurrently with the operation of the agitator, the drive-motor 12 alsodrives'the pump 17 in a direction to cause flow from the. tub 3 into andthrough the re-circulation conduit 21. This results in the wash waterbeing continuously recirculated through the wash basket during thewashing operation, with lint being removed by means of the filter 22 andwith sand flowing out of the basket through a soilremoval nozzle 123(Fig. 1) disposed beneath the..-agitator skirt S. The washing operationcontinues; with, the movement of the agitator and .the recirculationflow until .such time as the timer motor reachesthe region markedpause,a in the cam chart of Fig. 7., Atthat point cam I opens the contacts.99, 100 of switchlill. 'This'removes power from the drive motor 12 ;andthereby halts operation ofthe, agitator 5 and the pump 17. Theistoppingof the motor, of course, also results in the opening of the centrifugalswitch 122 which connected together the conductors and .87 during thewash period. However, poweris notremoved from the timermotor 71 as aresult of this 1 opening since a power circuit is still completedtto it,from -the conductor 80 through the valve solenoid 60 or both solenoids60 and 61 if switch 88 is closed. The timer isso constructed that itsimpedance is much greater than that ofthe valve solenoids, andthus ittakes .up ,most of the supply voltage and continues in operation. Thesolenoids in fact assume so little of the voltage that they are noteffective to open their respective valves 62 and ,63.

. To point outpositively at one place the impedance relationshipsbetween the valve solenoids 60 land 61, the

timer.motor 71 and the drive motor 12,- it will bounderstood thatwhenthe drive motor and the timer motor 11 are connected in parallelbranches in series with the valve solenoids, then the solenoids areoperated, but when the drive motor is removed from the circuit and onlythe timer motor is connected in series with the solenoids, then thetimer motor is operated and the solenoids are not. This latter conditionexists during pause a.

As the timer continues to run during pause a, the cam IV causesoperation of the motor reversing switch arms or contacts 103, 108from'their illustrated position where they engage the contacts 104, 107respectively to a second position wherein the arm 103 engages a contact124 and the arm 108 engages the contact 104. Thishas the efiect ofreversing the polarity of the start winding 95 when power is againapplied to it.

When the timer runs to the end of pause a, the cam III first closestogether all three contacts 76, 77 and 79 of switch 78 and then the camI again closes the contacts 99, 100 of the switch 101. This places poweron both the main winding 96 and the start winding 95 of the drive motorbetween conductors 87 and 94. However, since the polarity of the startwinding 95 is now reversed, the motor begins to rotate in the reversedirection from that in which it rotated during the wash period. This hasthe result that the wash basket 2 is now driven at high speed forextracting the wash water from the clothes. Further the pump 17 nowdischarges into the discharge period is reached, at that time the cam Iopens the contacts 99, 100 of switch 101 for a brief period. Thisremoves power from the drive motor 12 and allows the basket 2 to coasttoward a stop. It has been found that this interruption of the spinperiod is very effective in avoiding suds locking of the basket. Thepositions of the other cam operated switches are not changed at thispoint of the machine operation so that the timer motor continues to runduring this first coast period.

At the end of the first coast period the cam I again closes the contacts99, 100 of switch 101. This places power once more on the drive motor 12and it again begins to drive the wash basket and the drain pump. As thissecond portion of the wash spin period proceeds, the water dischargedfrom the tub 3 is either stored or passes to the drain 31 as beforedepending upon how the operator has set the switch 125.

hose or conduit 20 rather than into the recirculation conduit 21.

As the water is discharged from the tub 3 through the drain pump 17 andthe hose 20, it may, by means of the storage and re-use system, eitherbe stored in the reservoir 32 or discharged into the drain 31 at theoption of the operator. During pause a prior to the start of the spinperiod, the cam V closes the contacts 115, 116 of the switch 117. Thishas the effect of readying the solenoid 36 for energization if theoperator of the machine closes a manual save suds switch 125. Assumingthat the operator does close the switch 125, the solenoid 36 is thenenergized between the supply conductors 72, 73 during the spin period.From the conductor 72' the energizing circuit extends to solenoid 36through the contacts 76, 77 of switch 78, conductor 80, through con-'tacts 64, 65 of switch 51, and the conductors 81 and 126. From the otherside of the solenoid the circuit is completed through the manuallyoperated switch 125, the conductor 127, the contacts 115, 116 of switch117, the conductor 94 and the switch 75 to the power supply line 73.With the solenoid 36 energized by this circuit, the valve disk 34 isseated on the drain port 27 of the twoway valve 23, and the valve disk33 is moved out of engagement with the storage port 28. As a result thewater entering the valve 23 through the intake port 26 is dischargedinto the storage hose and conducted through it into the set reservoir32. There is, of course, no loss of flow through the return pump 41 andits connected hoses since the shut-off valve 24 is closed when-. everthe solenoid 36 is energized. In other words the valve disk 48 is seatedon the port 45. 7

Alternatively if the operator should not wish to save the wash water butrather to direct it to the drain 31, she does not close the switch 125.The switch 125 incidentally may be closed any time before the machine isset in operation or any time during the wash period. If the switch 125is not closed, the solenoid 36 will not be energized and thereby thevalves 23 and 24 are not operated to their storage positions. Ratherthey are left in their illustrated position wherein the intake and drainports 26 and 28 of the valve 23 are in open communication, so that theflow thereby passes through the drain hose 29 to the drain 31.

The rotation of the spin basket and the draining or The spin period withthe saving or draining of the wash water continues until such time asthe second coast period is reached. At that time the cam I opens thecontacts 99, 100. and removes power from the drive motor. The drivingforce is thereby removed from the wash basket 2 and it begins to coastto a stop. As the coast period continues, the cam II operates the switcharm 83 of switch 84 so that it no longer engages contact but rather isbrought into engagement with a contact 128. Also, cam III disengages thecontacts 77 and 79 of switch 78 so that only contacts 76 and 77 remainin engagement. The operation of these switches, however, does not removepower from the timer motor 71 since it is now energized through thesolenoid 61 of the cold water valve 63. Specifically, once the contacts77 and 79 are disengaged, the circuit for the timer motor then extendsthrough contacts 76, 77 of switch 78, conductor 80, contacts 64 and 65of switch 51, conductors 81 and 89, the cold water solenoid 61,conductor 90, contact 128 and switch arm 83 of switch 84, and theconductors 87 and 92 to the timer motor. The circuit is completed fromthe other side of the timer motor through the conductors 93 and 94 andthe manually operated switch 75 as before. As mentioned above theimpedance of the timer motor 71 is considerably greater than that of thevalve solenoid 61 whereby the timer motor continues to run but there isnot enough of a voltage drop across the solenoid 61 to cause opening ofthe cold water valve.

Besides the switching operation performed by the cams II and III, thecam IV also operates the motor reversing switch 102 during this coastperiod. Specifically, it once more reverses the position of the contactsarms 103 and 108 bringing them into engagement respectively with thecontacts 104 and 107. This reverses the polarity ofthe start windingback to its original connection. The cam V also operates its contacts115, 116 separating them so that the valve control solenoid 36 of thestorage and reuse system is no longer energized.

The second coast period continues with the timer motor running untilsuch time as the cam I closes the contacts 99 and of switch 101. Thisconnects the start and main windings of the drive motor in parallel withthe timer motor.71, and thereby a relatively low impedance is presentedbetween the conductors 87 and 94. The supply voltage thereby dividesdiiierently with the greater portion of the voltage drop now appearingacross the valve solenoid 61 and a relatively low voltage drop occurringacross the timer motor 71 and the windings of the drive motor 12. Thetimer motor immediately stops running and the solenoid 61' opens thecold water valve 63 introducing cold rinse water into the wash basket 2.If it is desired to introduce warm water rather than cold water into thebasket 2 for rinsing the clothes, manual switch 129 is closed by theoperator. The switch arm 83 and contact 128 of switch 84, when closed,connects the cold water solenoid 61 in parallel with the hot watersolenoid 60 and thereby causes opening of the cold water valve .63 inaddition to the hot water valve 62. With both valves 62*and 63 open,both hot and cold water are introduced whereby the basket is filled withwarm water for rinsing.

The machine continues to fill with rinse water until such time assuificient water is overflowed into the tub 3 to close the water levelswitch 111, or else the water saver switch 112 is manually operated.When either of these occur, the water valve solenoid or solenoids areshorted out and the conductor 87 is connected directly to the conductor83. This again applies line voltage to both the drive motor and thetimer motor. The timer motor thereby begins to drive cams I-V and thedrive motor begins to drive the agitator 5 with an oscillatory motion inthe wash basket. Also, of course, the drive motor drives the pump 17 inthe direction to recirculate the rinse water through the basket 2. Therinsing operation continues until the second pause, i.e., pause b, isreached. At that time the cam I again opens the contacts 99, 100removing power from the drive motor. The timer motor however continuesto run, and during the pause, the cam IV again reverses the position ofthe switch arms 103 and 108 reversing the polarity of the start winding95, and the cam III again closes all three contacts 76, 77 and 79.

At the end of the pause b the cam I closes the contacts 99 and 100. Thedrive motor is thus again energized and since the polarity of the startwinding 95 is reversed, the motor then begins to rotate in the directionso as to drive the spin basket 2. The rinse water is thereby thrown outor, more accurately, centrifugally extracted from the clothes. Also,with the motor running in the centrifugal extraction direction the pump17 is driven in a direction so that the water in the tub is dischargedthrough the discharge hose 20. This rinse water passes through thetwo-Way valve 23 and out of the machine through the drain hose 29 intothe drain 31. Since the cam V positively opens the contacts 115, 116during this period, the solenoid 36 cannot be energized and thereby thestorage port 28 of the valve 23 is closed and the drain port 27 is open.The spin operation continues until such time as the cam III opens all ofthe contacts 76, 77 and 79 of the switch 78. This removes the powercompletely from all the components of the machine 1 and it thereby comesto a stop. The clean clothes may then be removed from the machine.

Summing up with regard to my new and improved control system it will beseen that with this system the operator has the choice of either usingentirely fresh water or, if she has stored the wash liquid after aprevious washing operation, of returning this stored liquid to themachine or using any combination of fresh or stored liquid. Aftersetting either the return pump or the water inlet valve means inoperation, the operator may then leave the machine and it willautomatically proceed into its cycle of operation as soon as the liquidcontainer is filled either with the stored liquid, the fresh liquid orthe combination of both. In this automatic control sequence the returnpump is automatically locked in to return the stored liquid from thereservoir to the washing container. The period of time that the returnpump is locked-in is controlled by time delay means which isconcurrently energized at the time the return pump is locked-in. After apredetermined period of time, as the time delay means and return pumpare deenergized simultaneously, the water inlet valve means isconcurrently operated so that any make-up liquid needed in addition tothe stored liquid to fill the washing machine is automatically andimmediately added.

While in accordance with the patent statutes I have described what atpresent is considered to be the preferred embodiment of my inventon itwill be obvious operable sequence control means for controlling in a tothose skilled in the art that various changes and 7 predeterminedsequence said rotation of said container, and the operation of saidwashing means, said valve means and said emptying means, means forstoring the liquid emptied from said container in a storage reservoir,means including an electrically operated return pump and conduit meansfor returning the stored liquid from said reservoir back to saidcontainer, switch means having first and second positions, manuallyoperable means for moving said switch means from said first to saidsecond position, electrically operated thermal time delay meansefiective to move said switch means from said second to said firstposition after a predetermined period of energization thereof, saidswitch means in said first position completing a circuit to saidelectrically operated valve means, said switch means in said secondposition completing a circuit to energize said return pump to returnliquid from said reservoir and energizing said thermal time delay means,whereby said valve means is de-energized when said switch means is inits second position and is re-energized when said switch means isreturned to its first position by said thermal time delay means to stopthe return flow.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said thermal time delaymeans includes an electric resistance heater, and a bimetal elementadjacent said resistance heater, said bimetal element being positionedto return said switch means from its second to its first position.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said switch means includesfirst contact means adapted to be connected to a supply source, secondcontact means engaged with said first contact means in said firstposition of said switch means and connected to said electricallyoperated valve means, and third contact means engaged with said firstcontact means in said second position of said switch means and connectedboth to said electrically operated pump means and said electricallyoperated thermal time delay means, said pump means and said time delaymeans being connected in parallel with each other.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein a second manually operatedswitch is provided for de-energizing whichever of said return pump orsaid valve means is energized for manually terminating filling of saidcontainer at any time.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a liquid level switch is providedresponsive to the level of liquid in said container for de-energizingwhichever of said return pump or said valve means is energized when theliquid level in said container is at a predetermined level, thereby toterminate the filling of said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,604,497 Morrison July 22, 1952 2,643,311 Giutfrida et al. June 23,1953 "2,894,384 Smith July 14, 1959

